[fintstone]

Originally posted by CamB
Oh for crying out loud. You're missing the point that he is obviously completely correct. Their aren't enough troops and now you discount his insightful comments prior to the problem eventuating as the ramblings of a political appointee still trying to fight tha last war and not the next one .

Is it so hard to admit that it might be easier to keep the peace with the right number of troops there?

Is it only hard to admit that because to admit it would also be to admit that GWB would never have got permission to go make war if he said "We'll need at least $100b and a few hundred thousand troops"?

I just don't consider them insightful. We have won the war and are turning returning soveignity to the Iraqis next month with the smaller number of troops. Based on the requirements in Iraq and our other obligations...I think the number of troops has been about right. Recently the number was temporarily increased due to changes in requirements. The fact is, we simply do not have unlimited troops to send. Shinseki was making the point that the Army was just not large enough to fight the war the way he envisioned it would be fought. He also thought it would take months or years to take Baghdad. It was a political move. The army has bee trying to increase their end strength for years...maybe rightfully so...but that is up to congress.